Reversal of diastereofacial selectivity in hydride reductions of N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines

J Org Chem. 2006 Sep 1;71(18):6859-62. doi: 10.1021/jo0609834.

Abstract

A variety of N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines were reduced with NaBH4 in THF containing 2% water to provide the corresponding secondary sulfinamides in high yield and diastereoselectivity. By using the same sulfinyl imine starting materials and changing the reductant to L-Selectride, the stereoselectivity could be efficiently reversed to afford the opposite product diastereomer in high yield and selectivity.

MeSH terms

  • Borohydrides / chemistry
  • Imines / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Structure
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Sulfonium Compounds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Borohydrides
  • Imines
  • Sulfonium Compounds
  • sodium borohydride